//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: The Tree Man // Story: Ent Of The Everfree // by Note Of A Ghost //------------------------------// "Wow, I never thought something this beautiful would reside in the Everfree." Twilight said, completly blown away by the scene before her. After hours of trudging through thick shrub and the mysterious unknown, the group of seven came to a clearing at the base of a waterfall that crashed down into a crystal clear lake. The lake sat still only being disturbed by the ripples from the colliding water. A soft surrounding of short grass being the only thing separating the trees and the pool. It was such a sight that even Rarity had broken her focus from the 'icky' mud. "I think here is as good of a spot as any to set up camp, what do y'all think?" Applejack asked, placing her bag on the grass. "Look at that water... It's absolutely magnificent!" Rarity squeed. "Last one in's a rotten apple!" Spike shouted before tearing off his shirt and making a beeline for the lake, only to meet the ground mere feet before the water's edge. He looked up as there was a splash, sending a few drops over him. "What the fuck, Dash!" Rainbow Dash laughed at Spike's misery as Applejack and Pinkie Pie rushed into the water. "Spike, Watch your language!" Twilight scolded him only making Dash laugh harder. Spike got up with huff and was just about step into the water when a hand on his shoulder stopped him. "Oh don't worry about them, Spikey. We're all here to have fun." Rarity said before kissing him on the cheek and running to her swimming friends. The now blushing dragon forcefully calmed himself as his newly grown wings threaten to extend against his will. Another huff escaped his lips before he joined them. Back on dry land, Twilight and Fluttershy were laying out a picnic blanket and collecting the abandoned hiking bags and clothes when Fluttershy noticed something was off. "Twilight..." She said, gaining the attention of her alicorn friend. "Do you see that tree over there?" Fluttershy pointed out to a tree on the tree line. "You're going to have be a little more specific, Fluttershy." Twilight replied, slightly amused by the question. "That one there." Twlight followed her hand and sure enough there was indeed... A tree. "It looks like a tree to me." "I don't like it." Fluttershy said almost upset. "Well don't look at it." Twilight was confused by how 'funny' her friend was acting. "Fluttershy, are you feeling okay?" "I guess I'm just a bit nervous. A small family of squirrels came to my cottage early this morning, they were worried about the forest." Twilight's confusion did nothing but grow. "Why are squirrels worried about a bunch of trees." She quizzed. "They think that something is changing the other creatures." Fluttershy whispered, sending shivers through Twilight's fur. As spooked as she was, though, Twilight shrugged it off so they could enjoy today. "I'm sure what ever it is isn't that bad. We can handle anything in this forest now... I am a princess." Both mares giggle before returning to the fun they were suppose to be having. Just in time to have their attention caught by a certain drake shouting from distance. "Look out below!" All six mares looked to top of the waterfall to see Spike as he was about to jump. The drop was about thirty feet, so nothing too dangerous, but still enough to cause alarm to the more paranoid of the group. "Spike! What are you doing up there!" Twilight screamed. "Bah, I've got wings." He says while shrugging. And away he jumps. The group gasped as Spike's body sliced through the surface of the water, making quite the splash. There was utter silence as worry grew since time was ticking on and Spike hadn't surfaced yet. "Do you think he's alive?" Pinkie asked, breaking the ice. "Yahoo!" Spike cheered as he burst through the surface with a fist pump before sinking back down. "What a rush." He continued as he swam back to the others in the water. Dash, Applejack and Pinkie cheered and highfived Spike. "The food is out if any of..." Twilight didn't even get to finish her sentence before a soaking Pinkie was sitting on her lap, munching on a sandwich. "You could've at least dried yourself before doing... Whatever it is you just did." "Where's the fun in that?" Pinkie replied simply. As the group ate their lunch, unnatural movement in the tree line caught the attention of a watcher. Said watcher saw that this group was in much more danger than they realise, especially since they were about to encounter the infection. The leaves of a bush were slowly pushed apart as a large, heavy body slithered through with utter silence and skill of a predator moving on its prey. "You don't need to be on a beach to bathe in sunlight, darling." Rarity said as she layed on a beach towel, soaking in the sun's rays. "Amen." Spike whispered to himself before sitting bolt upright and a face of terror. The group notice and voice their concern, asking if he's okay, to which he replies "Manticore!" All seven of them jump to their feet as the hulking beast pounces for the nearest which happens to the white unicorn, Rarity. Spike reacted fast and with an extremely powerful beat of his wings, he rocketed straight in the way to have his shoulder crushed within the the beast's strong jaws. "Spike!" Rarity screamed, "Get back!" Spike demanded and Rarity backed away to the the others. Spike faced the manticore, their faces inches apart before taking a pained breath in and releasing a torrent of green flames right into it's eyes. The manticore reared back with a deafening roar. It forced itself to the ground, knocking Spike down. The beast was readying to the clamp its teeth on the drakes throat. Spike closed his eyes, not noticing the heavy vibrations in the ground below him. *Thud* *THUD* *THUD* A huge being swung its enormous arm, hitting the manticore in the side and launching it across the clearing were it collided Into tree trunks. Spike stared at the being and it stared back. It was a giant stallion... Made of trees! "Spike! Your shoulder. Are you okay?" Twilight shouted, rushing to his side. She glanced over where the manticore had latched on, only finded scratches. "I'm fine, my scales are tough." He replied with a wince. A furious roar resounded through the forest, snapping the attention of everyone present to the manticore as it charged back the beast. It's eyes were glowing a vibrant green, something manticore don't have. The giant readied itself in a stance and went to attack but was caught off guard by the manticore pouncing into it. The beast's claws dug into the being as did its teeth. The being cried out before throwing the beast into the ground with a hard thump. Before the beast could recover, the being raised its right arm as it formed from a hand into a spear. The being thrusted it's spear arm down slicing straight into the body of the manticore. The beast cried and thrashed around as droplets of blood spurted from the soon-to-be fatal wound. The thrashing and crying turned to forced breaths and whimpering as the life left the beast. The giant whispered in an ancient tongue before ripping it's own arm off, leaving it in the dead manticore. The group were absolutely shell shocked by what had unfolded infront of them. The severed arm started moving. It twisted and grew, extending branches from the top and a thick trunk at the bottom. The trunk eventually swollowed the body and the branches grew leaves which bloomed into a beautiful flower as the transformation was completed The being turned to the group which became ridged from it's gaze. "Are you... Okay?" It's voice was rough and deep, but also slow and full of wisdom. When recieving no reply, the being spoke again. "Do not be... Afraid... I am..." "An Ent! A real life ent!" Twilight shouted in joy. This broke the trance of the others and they all looked to the purple alicorn with clueless expressions. "A what now?" Applejack asked. "It's an ent. Ancient guardians of myth that are said to be a part of the forests. They watch over all the creature and protect the innocent from any evil that threatens their homes." Twilight explained, only getting more excited. "Wait..." She exclaimed, putting her excitement on pause. "Why did you attack the manticore? If anything you should have attack us for intruding on your forest." "Don't give him ideas." Dash said as she subtly hid behind Applejack. "That manticore was no longer under my care... She was infected." The giant said as he glanced at the new tree before returning his gaze. Fluttershy gasped in realisation, this is what the squirrels meant. "Yes, miss Fluttershy. I was the one who sent that small family to your door." The giant said. The group became on edge as the giant spoke Fluttershy's name. "How... How do you know my name?" Fluttershy asked meekly. "I know many things." He said mystically. There was a slight *pop* sound as Twilight wrote out a letter in her magic. The giant watched her as she passed the letter to Spike, which he engulfed in flames. The giant turned and started walking. "Wait where are you going?" Twilight exclaimed. "You wish for me to meet your mentor, do you not?" The giant replied "How did..." "I suggest we do not keep her waiting, Princess Sparkle." "How did... What have we found?" Twilight rhetorically asked her friends. Before the seven followed the tree man.